coral reef?

[fireman1]

This upcoming Feb will be my 11th trip to the World but I have somehow never ate at the Coral Reef.
My wife wants to try it and I think my step son (12) would really like the surroundings. The thing is, i'm hearing the food is pretty bad as well as the service. I don't know if i'm willing to trade atmosphere for food and service quality. That said, This trip is all about my step son, it's his first trip to the World, and of course it's about the wife as well ( Her 2nd trip )
What say you. The majority will decide if I keep the ADR or cancel.

 

[P&L@WDW]

I've eaten at Coral Reef on each of my last three trips, and always had a good meal. I have usually had to wait a few minutes past my ADR time, which I don't really mind, and I love the atmosphere.

 

[fireman1]

ok thanks, thats one for.

 

[bcarey2k]

I've eaten there many many times ... The food is typical Disney, but I find it pretty good.

There are longer waits occasionally, but you have entertainment in the aquarium ..... and it really is rather fun to simply watch the fish, sharks and rays.

-Brian

 

[fireman1]

thanks

 

[fireman1]

i'm not one that expects a 5 star meal at every restaurant, and I do understand some people wouldn't like it even if it were good. I was really wanting to know if its decent to good. That I can handle.

 

[Lisa F]

Coral Reef is one of my old favorites... it's been on my list of places to go since the walls were carpeted, lol. It has NEVER gotten very good reviews and I have always enjoyed the food there. I haven't been recently but it is probably much the same.

I would not look at service reports either, that is highly server dependent... I mean I don't think ANY disney restaurant condones bad service! But you can still get a bad server here and there.

 

[OhThePain]

CR was a childhood favorite of mine. It used to be a nice quiet meal with decent enough food in a nice atmosphere (yes, once upon a time it was just like it looked on Full House, although Uncle Jesse and Joey never broadcast a radio show from the aquarium when I was there, but I digress). Overtime, the food became mediocre and really subpar compared to other WDW restaurants, the service really wasn't that good, and what was once a great table being seated on the aquarium wall has become a dreaded spot to sit due to parents letting their kids run and scream and put there hands and cough and breathe all over the poor guests who get those tables. For us, it became as awful of a dining experience as 'Ohana (but that's another rant for another time on another thread).

However, this is just my opinion from my experiences. There are things at WDW that I may dislike/hate that others love and visa versa. I always suggest that people try things on their own to make their own opinions from their own experiences. If you are questioning a certain restaurant, you obviously have interest (or someone in your party has interest) in that restaurant. Don't let me or anyone else talk you in or out of something. Try it yourself. It's better to spend the time and money to find out you don't like something than to spend your time wondering if you should have tried something.

 

[ajwolfe]

We've ate there twice - once with an aquarium wall seat and the other without. The first time we really liked our meal, the second time we felt like the choices on the menu were limited than the first and just wasn't as impressed. Both times we had to wait extra long to be seated there and remember the service being slightly slower than other restaurants.
If you think the aquarium would be a draw for the step son I would give it a go, otherwise I think there are better places to choose from...Although everyone has varying opinions on that.

 

[PrncessA]

We ate there in 2014 and were not impressed at all. The atmosphere is cool, but it looks dated. My lobster and shrimp mac and cheese was disgusting, but both my husband and son had the pork and it was good. We wouldn't go again, but it was worth it once.

 

[D Morggggg]

I've eaten there 3 times. Twice, our experience was perfect. Once, one member of our party spent the next 8 hours in front of a toilet vomiting.

Good luck

 

[Dug720]

I've eaten there 3 times. Twice, our experience was perfect. Once, one member of our party spent the next 8 hours in front of a toilet vomiting.

Good luck

To be fair, that can happen anywhere though. It's happened to me at Rainforest Cafe and Olive Garden.

 

[SugarRush]

I loved Coral Reef. Atmosphere, food and service were fab.
I agree with others though, disney dining is on the day dependant, server dependant and mood dependant. Reviews are subjective, what they might experience you might not. You have to go with your gut and decide what you want to do.

 

[supersnoop]

Of all the restaurants in Epcot, Coral Reef is at the bottom of the list. Do it if you want the experience of eating sea food while seated next to an aquarium. Once was enough for me. There are so many better options at that park.

 

[samsteele]

I really enjoyed the Coral Reef for lunch this past Fall and again last Fall. I had the mahi-mahi and the turtle cheesecake both times and loved both. Definitely check out the updated menus on allears and also the disney dining site. My service this Fall was exceptional and prob my best service at WDW for the past 10 yrs. Not kidding. Great waiter and attentive service. My best advice would be to book the absolute earliest ADR avail. If you can get an ADR for restaurant opening that is ideal because this restaurant backs up quickly with seating and the waiters are also fresh at opening. I had a tank side table this Fall (and was one row back from the tank last Fall). The tank is fun and incredible if you are lucky enough to get a table near it. Again, keep looking for a restaurant opening ADR to maximize your chance for a tank table (first come, first seated) and to be seated w/o a huge wait. For example, my lunch ADR this fall was at 11:30 am. Last Fall it was 11:35 am. I got a tank side table this Fall. One row back last yr with the 11:35am ressie. Food for thought. Book the earliest ADR you are comfortable eating at. Enjoy!

 

[CynBeth]

We have been three times, once for dinner and twice for lunch and always have had great food and service.

 

[Meriweather]

I've been 3 times and the 4th coming up soon.
I like it......I've always had great service and I enjoy the food....and I don't eat seafood.
The atmosphere is great.

 

[Shanti]

This upcoming Feb will be my 11th trip to the World but I have somehow never ate at the Coral Reef.
My wife wants to try it and I think my step son (12) would really like the surroundings. The thing is, i'm hearing the food is pretty bad as well as the service. I don't know if i'm willing to trade atmosphere for food and service quality. That said, This trip is all about my step son, it's his first trip to the World, and of course it's about the wife as well ( Her 2nd trip )
What say you. The majority will decide if I keep the ADR or cancel.

We ate there once & the food was just fine. I'm not a "foodie", but I won't eat substandard or cafeteria food, either. It was typical Disney table service food, about the same quality as you'd get at Crystal Palace or CRT. The negative reviews you saw were likely from foodie types eating their way through Epcot, who found Coral Reef boring in comparison to World Showcase restaurants. I had chicken & enjoyed my meal, as did the others at my table. I don't remember the service either way, which seems to indicate that it, too, was typical Disney. The view of the aquarium was an added bonus that we really enjoyed.

No children were "running around screaming." We were seated right next to the tank and ate in peace, though not absolute silence, naturally. When you see a poster describe a restaurant as "almost as awful a dining experience as Ohana", that says more about their perspective than it does about the restaurant, in my opinion.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Rule one of Disney Dining Reviews: Every place will get panned by some people. Every place has devotees, save one or two. (I don't know that I have ever seen a positive statement about the food at Electric Umbrella; I can't think of many fans I've seen of Lotus Blossom. But.)

If you're interested in the experience, go.

 

[TheRittersLoveDisney]

We have eaten there the past two trips and had a good experience both times. We did have to wait about 15-20 past our reservation time but the food ( I had the steak both times) was good and my son (5) loved the atmosphere. I did not have any problems with children running around when we sat in front of the aquarium. But if I did... it is DISNEY for goodness sake... it wouldn't have bothered me.